Social Science Research Needs for the Hurricane Forecast and Warning System

Abstract

This article begins to identify high-priority social science research issues focused on the hurricane forecast and warning system. The research agenda was distilled as faithfully as possible from the efforts of a host of scientists. These included a series of white papers; a workshop in Pomona, Calif., in February 2005; several sessions at the 2004 and 2005 Natural Hazards workshops held in Boulder, Colo.; and additional input from the broader social science research community unable to attend these events. Expected results from this effort are (1) a focused applied research agenda designed to generate short-term immediate benefits; (2) a broader, more basic research agenda addressing fundamental theoretical and exploratory research designed to generate long-term improvements; (3) methods to enable the social science research community to gather and further develop research priorities and future agendas; and (4) a concept for a long-term, multidisciplinary, institutional approach to undertaking identified research priorities. This paper is presented as a call to action for the appropriate agencies and organizations to support social science research on the high-priority issues in the hurricane forecast and warning system to meet societal goals of protecting lives and property in the face of the ever-present threat of hurricanes.